Method of making refrigerating apparatus



June 6, 1933- o. M. SUMMERS I 3,

- METHOD OF MAKING REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Aprii 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l n n 0 -13 U U ,----I-4- U U U H--l4- U U n 13 U U MINX7E7NITORZ ATTORNEY June 6, 1933. o. M. SUMMERS 1,913,175

IETHOD OF MAKING REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 4, 1930 3 Sheets-Shes} 2 MMMM'AO f agazlbfvEwN'koR v W,%9'%

ATTORNEY June 6, 1933. o. M. SUMMERS v METHOD OF MAKING REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 4, 1930 s She etS-Sheet. a

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NVENTOR a? ATTORNEY Patented ...'..-.6;-1933 urn-Tau sures PATENT OFFICE? OTTO I. smnmas, OI DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR '10 IBIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, OF

' DAXTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION. OF DELAWARE immon or mxmq mnmnasg'fne arraaarus Original appllcatlon'flled April 4, 1930, Ser1a1 No. 441,463. Divided and this 1 I 29, 1930. Serial 1T0. 499,052.

' This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and more-particularly to a method of manufacturing a heat exchange element for use in refrigerating apparatus. This ap-- pli ation is a division of application No. 441,-

46. filed April 4, 1930.

For one of its objects this invention contemplates'a heat exchan e element comprisin alooped coil provi ed withspaced s mounted thereon. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a continuous metal tube bent to form a heat exchange element having a plurality of reverse bends and a; plurality of straight portions, the

straight portionsbeing provided with a plurality of parallel notched strip fins mounted thereon, and the notches being provided with flanges along the edges thereof.

A further object of this invention is to V provide a method'of manufacturing a heat exchange element of the above type, and more particularly a method of attaching fins to such a heat exchange element.

Further objects and advantages of the prescut invention will beapparent from the following description, reference being had'to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown. 90 In the drawings:

Fig. .1 is a view in elevation of completed condenser;

Fig. 1a is a view in section taken 'on the line 1A1Aof Fig. 1;

one form of Fig. 1B is a view in section taken on the line 1B--1B of Fig. 1; v

Fig 2 is a view in elevation of the end member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section of a double pipe condenser taken on a line corresponding to the line 1A 1A of Fig. 1;

F ig. 4 is a view in elevation of an end member used in a double pipe condenser;

used in constructing the condenser; v

Fig. 6 is a view in section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing additional apparatus for performing a step in the process Fig. 7 is a view in section on the line 7 provided with a Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of apparatus one of the ratus for performing a, step in the process of.

assembling the condenser shown in Fig. 10; Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are sectional views of apparatus used in constructing the condenser and showing the condenser at different points of its manufacture;

Fig. 15 is a view in elevation of an unapplication filed November view of part of the completed strip fin used in the modified form of apparatus. For purposes of illustration, a heat exchange element such} as contemplated by this invention may be a refrigerating condenser,

various forms of which have been illustrated on the drawings and are hereafter fully de-, scribed. Obviously, however, a refrigeratingcondenser is but one of the many elements to which this invention has reference.

In Figs. 1 to 4, I have disclosed a so-called single ipecondenser which may comprise the tubing 10 bent into the form of a serpentine coil provided with a'plurality of looped ends 11 and a plurality of straight portions 12. The condenser may be supported in assembled form by means of the end pieces 13, shown more clearly in Fig. 2 as being provid- Jedwiththe elongated openings 14 for the re- Eeptionof the bent portions of, the tube 10,

and with the circular opening'15 for the reception of a straight portion of the tube. Between the end members 13 there is provided a plurality of fins which ma take the form of metal. stri plurality of spaced notches 17 extending inwardly from the lateral ed e of the fin. Along the outer edges of t e notches the fins are bent at substantially to provide flanges 18 a ainst which the straight portions of the tu in 1% are adapted to bear. As shown in the rawings, these flan es extend along the side ed es of the note es and around the semi-circu ar edge of vided for drawing or forcing air over the condenser. In the construction shown, the fan would be located either in front o f or in .lo'back of the condenser and'yvould draw or force the air through the condenser as indicated by the arrows shown in Figure IA.

In this manner,- the flan cs 18 serve as bafiies and revent the formation of eddy currents on e far side of the coil, after the air has passed thereover. The bafiles 18 would also serve as baflles in the same manner with the a ir traveling in the opposite direction.

InQFi 1, a single pipe condenser has been shownt at is, a condenser formed of a single continuous tube 10 bent into the form shown, but obviously a double pipe condenser could be constructed in the same manner. For example, FigsQ3-and 4 disclose a double pipe condenser in section, showing the fins provided with the notches 17 extending inwardly from both edges thereof. In this .type of construction, the end member 13' is provided with two sets of elongated openings 14' for the reception of the two sets 0 i'everse bends.

The method of and apparatus for assemblin or manufacturing the condenser shown in 1, and more particularly the apparatus or and the method of attaching the us .16 to the ser ntine coil 10 will now be described. In igs. 5 to9 inclusive, apparatus for manufacturing or assembling the condenser disclosed in Fig. 1 is shown. The tubing 10 is first bent into the form of a serpentine coil, for example into the form shown in Fig. 1. The fin 16, which may take the form of metal strip fins, are cut out to fit this form of condenser. For example each strip fin 16 is provided with notches 17 extending inwardly from the one edge of the fin and spaced apart a distance equalto the space between the straight portions of the tubing. These notches may be formed by cutting out a piece of metal as indicated at 19 in Fig. 9 and y bending back the fin as indi-' cated for instance, by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig.9 to form flan es. After the notch has been formed the us should be assembled in a frame member 30 as shown in Fig.

5 which member is provided with a passa e 31 similar to the shape of the condenser to he made. The member 30 is also provided with a plurality of slots for the reception of the strip fins so that the fins may be held in a vertical position with the notches facing upwardly. The frame with the strip fins 16 arranged therein may then be placed in a press and the serpentine coil 10 placed above the fins with the straight portions of the serpentine coil corresponding to the notches in the fins as shown inFig. 6. The

member 32, which is intended to indicate- 1 art of the press or other apparatus used for orcing the tube into the fins, is then brou ht to" bear upon the serpentine coil 10. he

coil is thus forced into the notches in the strip fins by lateral movement of the coil.

After this operation, the tubing '10, with the fins 16 attached thereto by friction, may be withdrawn from the frame member 30 and may be-provided with the end members 13 by-slipping the latter over the bent edges of the tube. The condenser may then be dipsoldered, if desired, to securely attach the fins and the end members to the tube.

In Fi s. 10 through 15 inclusive, I have disclosed t e method of and apparatus for assemblinga modified form of condenser. This condenser is of the double pipe type and differs from that described in Fig. 1 only in the. specific design thereof; that is, some of the straight portions of the condenser are considerably shorter than others to provide a central space 50. The purpose of such a dcsign is to provide for a more convenient arrangement in connection with a refrigerating compressor and the motor for driving the compressor, whereb the condenser may be located between the motor and compressor and the motor shaft may pass through the space 50. The method of manufacturing or assembling this ty e of condenser is essentially the same as t at described for the single pipe condenser. The strip fins are first provided with the notches extending inwardly from both edges of the fin by cutting out the portions 40 as indicatedin Fig. 15 and bendingiback the metal surrounding the slot 40 on the dottedv lines. After the notches havebeen formed, the fins are assembled in the frame member 41 which is similar to the frame member 30, the fins being held ill-a vertical position in the frame with one set of notches extending upwardly. The tubing 10", which has previously been bent into the desiredform, is then placed above the fins with the straight portions correspond.- ing to the notches therein. The tubing 10" is then forced downwardly into the notches by means of the press member 42. After one tube has been forced into the fins' from one edge thereof, the fins and the tube are withdrawn from the frame member 41 and placed in a second frame 45 similar to the frame 41, but constructed to accommodate the partly completed condenser as shown in Fig. 12.

The second tubing 10" 'is then forced into the second set of notches, and after removal the end members 43 corresponding to theend members 13 of Fig. 1 may thenbe placed on the condenser by lateral movement of the end member over the bent edges of the tube. The wholeunit may then be dip-soldered to provide complete contact between the metal fins and the serpentine coil.

In all modifications, the fins are first provided with the notches extending from a lateral edge of the fin, so that the condenser maybe assembled by what I term the side entry of the serpentine into the notched fins. It should be noted that the amount of metal removed from the strip fins is relatively small and advantage is taken of practicall all of the fin for the dissipation of heat. a addition the surface contact between the tubing and the fins is relatively large due to the semicircular flange engaging the surfaceof the tube, which contact is further increased by dip-soldering the whole assembly.

While I have described the notches as formed by cutting or punching out the small slots as shown at 40 and 19, it is obvious that cells ways of forining the notches may be emplpyed. For example the notches-may be formed by the step by step process, that is by first cutting out a semi-circular opening slightly smaller than idle diameter of tubing and thereafter slitting the tubing from the openingto one. edge of the fin and binding back the edges of the slitto form a slot, at the same time bending back the edge of the semi-circular opening to provide the semi circular flange contacting the serpentine coil.

" thereby forming the lateral flanges by the Or, if so desired, the fins may be provided with a narrow slit by cutting out aportion similar to the portion 19 or 40, and-the coil may, be forced inwardly: through this slit,

coil itself.

While the form of embodimentof the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

.NVhat is claimed is as follows: 1. The method of manufacturing-a heat exchange element which comprises forming a tube intoa serpentine coil havinga plurality'of straight portions, slitting a plurality of metal strip fins at a plurality of spaced points corresponding to the straight portions of the tube, supporting said fins against lateral displacement and forcing the straight portions. of the tube laterally into the slots so formed and soldering the strip fin to the'straight portions of the-tube.

2. The method of, manufacturing ahea-t exchange element which comprises forming a tube into a serpentine coil having a plu rality of straight spaced portions, 'providing a plurality of metal strip fins with a lurality of notches having flanges exten ing along the edges thereof at a plurality of spaced points corresponding toithe strai ht portions of the tube, supporting said 'ns against lateral displacement and forcing the straight portions of the tube into the notches so formed substantially as described.

3. The method of manufacturing a heat exchange element which comprises forming a tube into a serpentine coil having a plufins at a plurality es having edge flanges, and forcing the duit which com rises slitting the fins from one edge thereo bending back the edges of the slit to form a slot, supportingthe fins against lateral movement and forcing the conduit into the slot so formed substantially as described.

5. The method of httaching fins to a conduit which comprises slitting the fins from one edge thereo" bending back the edges of the slit to form a slot, supporting thefins against lateral movement and forcing the f conduit into the slotsoforme solderingthe conduit and fin in this assembled form substantially as described.

6. The method of manufacturing a heat exchange element which comprises forming a tube fins at a plura 1ty of spaced points corresponding to the straig t portions of the tube grid, supporting said fins against lateral displacement and forcing the straight portions of'the tube grid laterally into the slots so formed. 9

7. The method of manufacturing a'heat exchange element which comprises forming a tube grid having a plurality of straight portions, slitting a plurality of metal strip of spaced points corresponding to the straight portions of the tube id, supporting said fins against lateral isplacement and forcing the straight poitions of the tube grid laterally and simultaneously into the slots so formed.

8. The method of manufacturing a heat exchange element which comprises forming a tube into a serpentine coil having a plurality of straight portions, slitting a plurality of metal strlp finsat a plurality of spaced points corresponding to the straight grid havinga plurality of straightportions, slittin a plurality of metal strip portions of the tube and forcing the straight portions of the tube laterally and siinultaneously into the slots so formed and soldering the strip fins to the straight portions of the tube.

9. The inethodof manufacturing a heat exchange element which comprises forming a tube into a serpentine coil having a plurality of straight portions, slitting a'plurality of metal fins at a plurality of spaced points corresponding to the straight portions of the't-ube, bending back the edges of the slit substantially at right angles to the fins to form notches having edge flanges, and forcing the straight portions of the tube simultaneously in the notches so formed by lateral movement of the tube substantially as described. P

10. The method of manufacturing a heat exchange element which comprises forming a tube grid havinga plurali? ofstraight portions, slitting a plurality 0 metal fins at a plurality of spaced points corresponding to the straight portions of the tubeid, bending back the edgesof the slit su stantially.

at right angles to the fins to form" notches having edge flanges, and forcin the straight rtions' of the tube grid in t e notches so ormed by lateral movement of the tube grid substantially as described.

' 11. The method of manufacturing a heat exchange element which comprises forming a tube into a serpentine coil having a plurality of straight portions,.slitting a metal fin at a plurality of spaced points corresmngn in to the straight portions of the tube,

ing back the edges of the slit substantially at I right-angles to the fin to form notches having edge flanges supporting said fin; against tube grid in t i the tu lateral displacement, and forcing the straight portions of the tube in the notches so formed y lateral movement of the tube substantially as described. I 1

manufacturing a heat exchange element which comprises forming a 12. The method of tube into a serpentine coil having a pluralof straight portions, slitting a plurality it of metal fins at a plurality oi spaced points.

correspgnding to the straight portions-of;

bending back the edges ofthe slit Y substantially at right angles to. the fins to form notcheshaving edge flan es support said fins against lateral disp acement,

forcing the straight portions ofthe tube simultaneously in the notches so formed by lateral movement of the tube substantially as described. f

.13. The method of manufacturing a heat exchange element which com rises forming a tube grid having a plurality of straight portions, slitting ametal fin at a plurality of spaced points corresponding portions of the tube grid, bending back the edges of the slit substantially atright angles to the fin to form notches having edge flanges,

supporting said fins against lateral displacement and forcing the straight portions of the notches so formed by lateral. movement oft described.

1 In testimony whereof I hereto alfix 'my signature.

. one M. S MMERS.

' noial'lb to the straight e tube grid substantially as p 

